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Honesty is the best policy!

Today, we would normally hear a friend or someone we know after telling something a reaction like that of a doubt if he or she could keep it. Because we usually think that promises are words said that are meant to be broken.

Why do you think such situation do exist today?

Mainly because the word "Honesty, " has a very deep responsibility attach to it...and that is to keep them.

Sometimes we even come up with different alibis why such action was never practiced.

Many of us do not know that we are committing a violation of being true to other people and even within one's selves.

This was one issue that ABS-CBN bravely face by prompting a teleserye entitled..."HONESTO!"

I have seen the teaser of it, and it was indeed very interesting.

The story will begin with a little boy named "honesto," whom according to them never tell a lie, because in their family if one does their nose simply got irritated and becomes red.

It was funny at first, because mainly most people whom are aware of the tale of "Pinnochio," would think that it was pegged to that.

Here the boy "Honesto," if found something simply returns it...and would never even hear him saying any single lie.

There was just one episode that was teased on the television where-in the scenario was set in the classroom and when Honesto, made mention that he doesn't have a father...all his classmates laughed at him.

The episode tackles the most important and basic foundation of our society and that is having a family that you can call your own.

I began thinking when I have seen the full episode...here all Honesto's classmates were laughing because for him his grandfather and their dog should also be a part of their family.

But the teaser has told us differently.

I'm just concern about how you put your teaser together, as much as possible stick on the gist of the story to avoid confusion and thus misleads viewers.

Because if it's misleading, then it should not anymore be called..."Honesto."

Picture courtesy of: channelfilipino.org

I need a second opinion

When we are quiet sure about a particular medical test, it is common for most people whom are diagnosed with a certain illness or disorders to seek for a second opinion.
Today, I experienced this particular scenario where-in I personally think that I badly need a second test from a medical expert.
I must have been in denial about not having a 20/20 vision, for I couldn't believe that at my age...I am experiencing a "refractive errors."
A refractive errors is a common vision problems that includes nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, and presbyopia.
But I will be closely tackling about a refractive errors that falls under "nearsightedness."
Nearsightedness mainly states that the person has a clear vision of an object closer to him/her, while when it was far, the vision became blurry or unclear.
This was the exact scenario I've encountered when the company I am currently rendering my service did a periodical medical assessment.
Most of my co-workers, usually tease me when they've notice that I am having a hard time checking if all words in the graphics are all spelled correctly.
I was just laughing at them and always divert my attention by cracking a joke about it.
Not until an eye-specialist hired by the company for a check-up, personally checked it.
I started to get a straight answer when I was asked to read a "Snellen Chart."

The traditional Snellen chart is printed with eleven lines of block letters. The first line consists of one very large letter, which may be one of several letters, for example E, H, or N. Subsequent rows have increasing numbers of letters that decrease in size. A person taking the test covers one eye, and reads aloud the letters of each row, beginning at the top. The smallest row that can be read accurately indicates the visual acuity in that eye.
I was shocked to find out that when I was asked to read the block letter located on the eight rows...I barely couldn't see it.
The guy who's conducting the eye examination uses another grade of an eyeglasses...and from there I was able to read and see it clearly.
As far as I can remember I was told that I have a 75/50 vision. I'm not sure if I am writing it right. But the 75 explains the condition of my right eye, and another 50 was for the left.
I was completely shocked and I have to admit that I worry about this.
But I know that worrying will not help me.
So, what I am thinking now is to seek a second opinion.
And from there, I will surely have a clear understanding of what I am going through right now.


  

A new perspective

Lately I was bothered about the way how my hair appears to everyone. It was growing fast and doesn't have volume anymore. Of course, with that scenario I would normally think that…I have an obligation to visit a Salon again. If my memory still serves me well it was almost a month since I went to my hairstylist. Though I was having a haircut, I never had the guts to change it.

Most of the people would normally happy seeing me being comfortable with a haircut similar to Daniel Padilla. But before it was called a “Justine Bieber” cut, and many years ago it was a “Dao Ming See”, Jerry Yan look.

For many years, the hairstyle was like that, not until I did a very brave move…changing it.

But changing it means literally going to another Salon, far from the one I often visit, also with a major shift on the hairstylist.

One weekend while strolling at the mall, out of curiosity I tried checking on one Salon. For me it was a challenge, for I have to number one conquer my fear on changing a cut I am usually wearing. Recently, I was visiting the net for a new hairstyle and was asking opinions of my wife and some friends via the Instagram. In short, somehow I never came prepared about the huge change I want with my hair to happen.

At the Salon, I showed the hairstyle I want. But the hairstylist showed me several men’s cut from a magazine. From there, I started choosing…and the next thing I saw was…he’s trimming the hair I happen to have for the longest time. I was then having a doubt at the time, for one I was talking to myself…is this the right thing to do? What if it doesn't turn out well? But I stopped asking after it was style using a hair wax. It was beautiful!

I have been getting feedbacks from the outcome of my hair…there are few of them who dislikes it but many of them loved it. And that’s enough for me to realize that I have done a great job on changing the hairstyle.

Though I have to admit that up to now I’m having difficulty of fixing them every morning before going to the office. It was hard for I have to blow dry my hair first… It was an effective way to make the wax more manageable into a hairstyle I want them to be. Most the times, it was a ritual for my wife to help me style it. But one of the most exciting advantage aside from having a new cut that suits me… is also making a time to think of a better way to express it with what I wear.

Ticket Rejected

If you happen to go to work everyday and just like the rest of the normal people you can’t afford to have your own car and then face the daily commuter’s consequences… deal with a horrible traffic while passing thru Edsa.

Before I don’t worry about it that much…for I was a part of a morning newscast show that requires me to commute very early. In as fast as 15minutes from Monumento, Caloocan…I can be at Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong City where my office is currently situated. But my present schedule is now set where most commuters rush to their work.

At first, I tried leaving the house two hours before my actual time at the office…but I found myself still caught in the traffic. Now, I was force to ride via the Metro Rail Transit or MRT, for the purpose of saving more time and a test for me to overcome my fear or phobia in a crowded transportation like that of a train.

I must say that most people riding the MRT were far from their old habits like that of not falling in line. But one thing is not fix yet and that is…learning how to allow passengers go out first before going inside the train. But the bottom line is… there are obviously more passengers where in they lack trains to accommodate the volume of commuters.

Most of the times you’ve been hearing the pilot of the train telling the commuters don’t hold the door to avoid delay…next train will be on its way shortly.  But the eager passengers were still forcing the door despite of the lack of space inside. Sometimes, announcement such as “The upcoming train will just pass by and will not load commuters”, that pissed me off and I believe the exact sentiments of the many.

Recently, it was announced that there will be an increase in the fare of the train…I just hope that this will be the best answer to resolve the daily jam-pack volume of commuters and soon enough we will be seeing more trains.

And I do hope that they can also fix the trouble I recently encountered at the time I previously inserted the MRT Magnetic card on their machine…”Ticket Rejected” (in a red warning). It was pretty normal for every individual to ask why such thing occurred. The only response I got from one of the MRT staff was it was expired…and it was purchased last December 2012.

Upon hearing that I was shocked…WHAT?! I happened to purchase a stored value worth P100 exactly a week ago. How come?  I wanted to explain myself…but guys believe me they trust their machine more than the explanation I was making.

I just nodded but dismayed. And the saddest part…I was left with a choice purchasing a single journey ticket again. I will describe the feeling with the following words…GRRR!

To explain my side which was never heard…aside from I just got it a week ago, the same ticket showed a “ticket rejected”, at the very time I first inserted it in their machine. But since, I think such “error” occurred sometimes…I let the train staff to fix it. Never in my expectation…that the same problem will happen again and what worse was I was the one paying for the consequence of it.

The unexpected one

On a daily basis especially on a normal day, most of my time was devoted at my work. It is a five day office attendance and usually sometimes six or more if we have breaking news or special coverages that will fall during weekend. It was pretty normal for a guy who committed himself at a TV Network, especially that of News. If I don’t work on my day-off…I usually invite my family strolling at the mall, or if we wanted to break the monotony…we explore famous parks here in the Philippines, and to name a very popular one…Luneta Park.

When everything seems to be programmed, I usually think of other means to enjoy my spare time. One friend from College days just proposed a get together swimming. At first, everything was not definite for one…the location, who’s coming, and even on the last two days if we are pushing thru or not.

But despite of some dilemma, fate has intervened…the “whole barkada” found our happiness at the Jeds Resort, situated at the Calumpit, Bulacan!

There was a feast of foods from a simple adobong manok , fried hotdog and chicken, lumpiang shanghai, liempo, menudo, and bangus (milk fish).

There was a drizzle of rains that welcomed us before entering the swimming venue. And it didn't stop the whole day. Though the weather didn't match our happy thoughts…it didn't stop us from attaining ecstasy.

My daughter Althea was so excited even before everything happened. I and my wife Mary Anne was very happy to see here dipping in the water, and even mesmerized when she showed us how to swim. Very different from a fearful Althea that we used to know. This time, she was out of the water for longer hours.

It was a whole day activity. But indeed...it was FUN!

The power to explore at the palm of your hand

I remember I had my first cellular phone year 2001. And at the time, I was lucky to have a Nokia 3210 mobile phone. Back then, the very purpose of introducing it to the market was to experience an instant call and sending of text messages anywhere you are. And such brilliant idea made every “Juan” and people from different parts of the world finally changed the way how communication works.

I remember when I was taking my Master's degree in Broadcast Communication in U.P. Diliman,
I proposed a thesis study for the class on understanding how these technology works for a paradigm shift. And back then, our country according to one legislator was believe it or not...a “texting capital of the world”.

And that was how most Filipinos patronized and enjoyed it. Today, there are so many names of service providers and mobile phone makers making their way to continue develop and add more features in the use of such technology. With the advent of popular brands of cellular phones today like that of…Iphone,  HTC,  Nokia, Samsung and a lot more… this gave more people from different walks of life, more reasons to get indulge with it.

Now, most people no longer rely on their personal computer that was taking so much space to set-up. Today, I believe most offices, homes, and businesses has more valid reason to use them. On the other hand, most individuals like young professionals (yuppies), merely depends on their personal mobile phone that has exciting features like that of having an unlimited internet access right at the palm of their hands.

Lately, I was lucky to have a post paid mobile phone provided by Smart that comes with the Unlimited LTE internet access. This was absolutely new to me, for I have been using another brand of phone that limits me from a simple functions...the call and text.The unlimited access I got from my service provider is giving me the power to be on-line anytime, anywhere.

I am very particular on looking at the importance of it in checking my e-mails, updating my twitter and Facebook (FB) posts, on writing a blog, and indeed very functional and helpful in my current work in the media.

The access also gave me some form of entertainment in my long hours of daily travel going in and out of the office.  That is why I don’t bother that much when my monthly post paid bill comes in.

But honestly speaking, a good internet access will be best enjoyed with a mobile phone that comes with the best features.